World experience of legal regulation of road safety

Pastukh, Igor; Bukhtiiarova, Iryna; Kapitonova, Nataliia; Ahanin, Bohdan · 2021 · Crossref

DOI: 10.46398/cuestpol.3970.10

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Summary

This paper analyzes the global legal regulation of road safety, addressing the persistent challenge of high mortality and injury rates from traffic accidents. Motivated by the World Health Organization’s reports indicating 1.35 million annual deaths and the UN’s “Decade of Action for Road Safety,” the authors examine how various nations structure their legal frameworks to mitigate these risks. The study aims to identify common trends, key state policy directions, and effective principles for ensuring road safety across different socio-political and economic contexts. The authors employ a comparative analysis of historical developments and current legal regulations in various countries. They categorize current issues into legal regulation itself and the structural organization of that regulation, including personnel, material, technical, and financial support. The review traces the evolution of traffic laws from ancient Rome and medieval Europe, through the introduction of early speed limits and traffic controls in the 19th century, to the establishment of international standards via the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. The analysis specifically highlights the positive experiences of China, Japan, and several European countries, evaluating their approaches to legal enforcement, infrastructure development, and public awareness campaigns. The findings reveal that while socio-political and cultural factors create diverse national systems, stable trends exist in the formation of road safety competencies. The paper identifies that effective regulation requires more than just legal statutes; it demands a systematic approach involving objective indicators and evidence-based measures. The authors note that countries like China, Japan, and certain European nations have developed robust frameworks that other nations could adopt. These successful models emphasize the integration of legal norms with smart road construction, strict enforcement, and comprehensive public education. The historical review underscores that as motorization grew, so did the necessity for standardized rules, leading to the current global consensus on the need for coordinated international efforts. The significance of this research lies in its conclusion that improving the efficiency of road safety regulation requires a holistic, systematic strategy. The authors argue that to reduce the severity of accident consequences and prevent fatalities, states must move beyond fragmented legal measures. Instead, they should implement integrated policies that combine legal regulation with technical and financial support structures. By adopting the proven experiences of leading nations and focusing on evidence-based prevention strategies, governments can better align with the goals of the UN’s sustainable development agenda. This work provides a framework for policymakers to evaluate and enhance their national road safety systems through comparative learning and systematic implementation.

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• comparative international
• regulatory evaluation